Rug protector for furniture



Dec. 12, 1967 c. DAMATO 3,357,669

RUG PROTECTOR FUR FURNITURE Filed Sept. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. D'AMATO Dec. 12, 1967 RUG PROTECTOR FOR FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 196 5 INVENTOR Q Carl Dflmalo LK" i i 9 I f United States Patent O 3,357,669 RUG PROTECTOR FOR FURNITURE Carl DAmato, 8784 23rd Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11214 Filed Sept. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 489,719 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-41461) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coaster or caster cup for protecting carpet, rugs or the like from damage by legs of furniture. The caster has a flat thin body for supporting the bottom end edges of legs of furniture. Peripheral spaced lugs extend upwardly from the periphery of the body for engaging the outer cylindrical surface of the furniture leg; and peripheral spaced lugs depend downwardly from the periphery of the body resting upon a carpet or rug. The edges of the lugs are variously shaped, to wit, curved, tapered, straight, etc.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in protective devices commonly called coasters or caster cups to be applied to the feet of equipment generally classified as furniture to prevent indentation of pile-surfaced fioor coverings such as carpet, rugs or the like.

Brief summary of the invention A furniture coaster for supporting furniture in an elevated posi ion above a floor covering. The coaster has a circular flat furniture-supporting platform, a plurality of lugs depending from the periphery of the platform, a plurality of spaced lugs upstanding from the periphery of the platform, the lugs having curved end edges. The depending and upstanding lugs may be different in length.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure: I

- FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a coaster embodying one form of the invention shown inserted beneath the leg of an article of furniture and illustrating diagrammatically its relation to a pile-surface floor covering.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the improved coaster.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the blank from which the coaster is made.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a coaster embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 65 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 6 of a coaster embodying a second modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a blank for producing a coaster embodying a third modified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is adisassembled perspective view of a coaster embodying a fourth modified form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the coaster of FIG. 8 in operative position.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a coaster embodying a fifth modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10A10A of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a coaster embodying a sixth modified form of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1212 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a coaster embodying a seventh modified form of the invention, shown inserted beneath the leg of an article of furniture and illustrating its relation to a pile-surfaced floor covering.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a coaster embody- 3,357,669 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 ing an eighth modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view through the center of a coaster embodying a ninth modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 a coaster 10 embodying one form of the invention is shown, resting on a floor rug 12, slightly elevated over the piles 14 of the rug and supporting a leg 15 of a piece of furniture. The coaster 10 as best seen in FIG. 1 comprises a one-piece metal structure comprising a circular flat body constituting a supporting platform 14. A plurality of spaced upstanding plate-like lugs 16, slightly curved longitudinally, are integrally formed on the peripheral edge of the platform. A plurality of similarly shaped and formed lugs 18 depend from the peripheral edge of the platform in offset vertical planes from the lugs 16. The lugs 16 and 18 have curved end edges 20 and 22, respectively. The lugs 16 and 18 are preferably of a length greater than the thickness of the pile 23 of the particular floor rug 12 so that when the curved ends 22 are brought into load bearing engagement with the weave or backing 24 of the rug 12, the under surface 26 of the platform 14 does not bear upon the surface 28 of the pile 14, but rather is elevated thereabove. The lugs 18 are so shaped that they divide and pass between the pile fibres 23 without tending to tuck the fibres beneath the pile structure, and are of such size that they will not harmfully pierce the woven backing under the Weight of the furniture as best shown in FIG. 2. The lugs 18 are arranged substantially symmetrically about the axial center of the platform 14 to secure ideal weight distribution.

The projecting lugs 16 and 18 shown in the modified form of coaster 10' shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 differ from the lugs 16 and 18 merely in the shape, the lugs 16' and 18 being slightly tapered and straight across the ends 20 and 22'. Furthermore, a rubber cap 24 is removably placed for each lug 18, as a further protection for the weave or backing of the rug.

In the modified form of coaster 10 shown in FIGS. 6A the rubber caps 24" are fitted on the top lugs 16" as well as the bottom lugs 18"in order to protect the legs of the furniture and so that the coaster may be used interchangeably by turning the coaster upside down.

In FIG. 7 a blank 26 for making a coaster is shown, the lugs 28 being preformed with fold lines r for long lugs and with fold lines R for short lugs.

A sectional coaster 10" is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 comprising a top section 30 and a lower section 32 joined by a screw 34 and a nut 36 assembly. The top section 30 has a substantially square-shaped flat body 14 and upstanding spaced lugs 16. The bottom section 32 is slightly larger in dimensions and has a substantially squareshaped body 38 and spaced depending lugs 40. Body 14" of section 30 and body 38 of section 32 have aligned holes 42 and 44, respectively, to receive the screw 34, the nut being secured to the lower projecting end of the screw. The coaster 10 is used similarly to coaster 10, with the nut 36 being elevated above the pile 14' of the rug 12".

Another sectional coaster 10a is shown in FIGS. 10 and 10A. The coaster comprises superimposed flat bodies or platforms 14a, 14a, the uppermost platform having spaced depending lugs 18a and the bottom platform having spaced upstanding lugs 16a, the lugs 16a and 18a being offset from each other and interlocked. The coaster 10a may be used interchangeably by turning the coaster upside down.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 a sectional coaster 19x embodying still another modified form of the invention is shown. Coaster 10x comprises superimposed fiat bodies or platforms 14x, 14x, the uppermost body having upstanding lugs 16x and the bottom platform having Spaced depending lugs 18x aligned with the lugs 16x. A square shaped rubber envelope 44 covers the superimposed platforms 14x, 14x, the envelope having slots 46 in its sides to receive the superimposed bodies.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modified self-adjusting sectional coaster a. Coaster 10a comprises atop section 30a and a bottom section 32a in spaced relation, with a compression spring 48 joining the sections. The upper section 30a has a circular fiat body 14a with upstanding peripheral lugs 16a. The bottom section 32a has a circular flat body 14a with depending lugs 1.8a aligned with the lugs 16a. The lugs 18a are longer than the lugs 16a. One end of the compression spring 48 is welded to the bottom surface of the body 14a of section 30a and the other end is welded to the top surface of the body 14a of section 32a. This form of coaster 10a is particularly useful for use with irregular or nonlevel supporting surfaces such as floors.

In FIG. 14, a coaster 10x embodying a further modified form of the invention is shown, the coaster 10x being sectional and having an upper section 30x and a bottom section 32x. Upper section 3.0x has a flat circular body 14x with an upstanding annular flange 50 around the periphery thereof. The flange 50 is formed with upwardly projecting pointed lugs 16x along its upper edge.

The bottom section 32x is slightly larger in dimensions than the upper section and is formed with a fiat circular body 14x with an annular depending flange 52 formed downwardly extending pointed lugs 18x. The bodies are superimposed and secured together by spot welds .as indicated at 54.

In FIG. 15 a coaster 10a" embodying still another modified form of the invention is shown. Coaster 10a is somewhat similar to the coaster 10a of FIG. 13 for irregular surfaces but is formed of a single piece of round wire stock. One end of the wire is bent in circular formation to provide an upper portion 30a bent to form upwardly extending lugs 16a". The other end of the wire is bent in circular formation to provide a lower portion 32a" bent to form downwardly extending lugs 18a". The intermediate portion of the wire is convoluted to form a coil spring 48a", the upper convolution 56 of the spring constituting a horizontal body for supporting the .leg of an article of furniture.

While 1 have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture coaster for supporting furniture in an elevated position above a floor covering having a woven backing surfaced with pile fibres without damage to the floor covering, said coaster including a circular flat furniture-supporting platform, a plurality of spaced lugs depending from the periphery of the platform, said lugs adapted to separate and pass between the pile fibres with the ends in load-transferring engagement upon the backing without passing therethrough, when the platform is subjected to furniture load, and a plurality of spaced lugs upstanding from the periphery of the platform offset from the depending lugs, said upstanding lugs in nondisplacement engagement with the leg of the article of furniture being supported, said upstanding and depending lugs having curved end edges for interchange use either as load-transferring engagement lugs or non-displacement engagement lugs.

2. A furniture coaster for supporting furniture in an elevated position above a floor covering having a woven backing surfaced with pile fibres without damage to the floor covering, said coaster including a circular flat furniture-supporting platform, a plurality of spaced lugs depending from the periphery of the platform, said lugs adapted to separate and pass between the pile fibres with the ends in load-transferring engagement upon the backing Without passing therethrough, when the platform is subjected to furniture load, and a plurality of spaced lugs upstanding from the periphery of the platform offset from the depending lugs, said upstanding lugs in nondisplacement engagement with the leg of the article of furniture being supported, said upstanding and depending lugs having tapering sides and straight end edges, the depending lugs being of a different length than the upstanding lugs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,210 2/1916 Keffer 248152 1,490,132 4/1924 Sheehy 248-1883 1,537,598 5/1925 Goldman 248-346 X 2,549,084 4/1951 Heth 248346 X 2,865,133 12/1958 Hoven 248188.9 2,902,794 9/1959 Ehrgott 248188.9 3,099,891 8/ 1963 Handler 248-1889 FOREIGN PATENTS 133,855 11/1919 Great Britain.

235,951 6/ 1925 Great Britain.

382,385 11/ 1964 Switzerland.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FURNITURE COASTER FOR SUPPORTING FURNITURE IN AN ELEVATED POSITION ABOVE A FLOOR COVERING HAVING A WOVEN BACKING SURFACED WITH PILE FIBERS WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR COVERING, SAID COASTER INCLUDING A CIRCULAR FLAT FURNITURE-SUPPORTING PLATFORM, A PLURALITY OF SPACED LUGS DEPENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE PLARFORM, SAID LUGS ADAPTED TO SEPARATE AND PASS BETWEEN THE PILE FIBERS WITH THE ENDS IN LOAD-TRANSFERRING ENGAGEMENT UPON THE BACKING WITHOUT PASSING THERETHROUGH, WHEN THE PLATFORM IS SUBJECTED TO FURNITURE LOAD, AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED LUGS UPSTANDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE PLATFORM OFFSET FROM THE DEPENDING LUGS, SAID UPSTANDING LUGS IN NONDISPLACEMENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LEG OF THE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE BEING SUPPORTED, SAID UPSTANDING AND DEPENDING LUGS HAVING CURVED END EDGES FOR INTERCHANGE USE EITHER AS LOAD-TRANSFERRING ENGAGEMENT LUGS OR NON-DISPLACEMENT ENGAGEMENT LUGS. 